Ikea Canada recalls 64,000 crib mattresses because of safety risk

Torstar News Service
Ikea Canada is recalling nearly 64,000 crib mattresses because of the risk of infants getting pinned by a gap between the mattress and crib, the company says.

The voluntary recall comes after the Swedish furniture company received 10 reports of “a potential gap” between the Vyssa mattress and the crib. Health Canada says it has received one report of a problem from a consumer.

The gap between that specific type of mattress and the crib can be more than three centimetres and create the safety hazard for infants, the company says. If customers measure the gap without any bedding on the mattress and find it more than three centimetres, they should stop using the mattress and return it to any Ikea store.

Transport Canada Introduces New Rail Safety Requirement

New safety regulations for railways were announced in response to the tragedy in Lac-Megantic, Que. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press)

CBC
Railway operating certificates from the federal government become mandatory Jan. 1, at least for new operators.

This new requirement for rail companies follows a recommendation of the Auditor General after the train derailment and explosions that devastated Lac-Megantic, Que. in 2013.

Now Transport Canada will have the power to shut down a railroad's operations without going to court. The ministry says a revocation will only happen if there is an extreme violation of the safety regulations.

On the other hand, should an extreme violation happen and the government not act, it may be held to account.

Transport Canada says it will take only an hour to complete the certificate, but it is giving existing railways two years to do so.

Honda Canada Recalls 700,000 Cars To Replace Airbags

CBC
Honda Canada Inc. is recalling 700,000 vehicles across Canada to replace airbag inflators.

Honda also agreed to replace the bags on 2.6 million vehicles nationwide in the U.S. Instead of using the word recall, the company is deeming it a "safety improvement campaign."

The recall is part of a worldwide campaign by the automaker to voluntarily replace defective airbags made by Takata Corp. of Japan.

The Takata airbags that have been linked to four deaths on U.S. roads and one in Malaysia because the bags deteriorate in humid weather and can spray metal fragments.

Honda Canada said it is not aware of any reported claims of injuries or deaths related to cars with Takata-produced airbags that were sold in Canada.

The vehicles to be repaired: